1st March 2003

Past Time Rail
The Spinnin' State VI

Route :
1Z54 : Euston to Preston
1Z64 : Preston to Euston

Notes:
Tour was originally advertised to go from Preston to Liverpool with the class 60 and have the final loco change at Bescot DUGL.

37109 leads 37216 at Banbury in the rain (photo: Gary Thornton)

Sources : various

Tour Review
(by David Russell)

Past Time Rail’s “Spinning State 6” was one of those tours which didn’t particularly grab my attention – probably because of its awkward pick up and set down points. Apart from London Euston, the only other advertised pick up was at Banbury. The problem with this was that it didn’t set down at Banbury, the only other advertised set down being at Coventry. Coventry somehow became Birmingham International in the week leading up to the tour, which made it even more unfriendly (Webmasters comment: agreed, that's one reason why I didn't do the tour, even though I needed both 37's for haulage. Another was that I didn't need any of the other locos rumoured to work the train).

It was only when, a day or two before the tour, that news spread that 37047+37372 or 37109+37216 were likely to be on the tour that I decided that I would travel on it. 37047 and 37216 were both required so it looked like I would be on for at least one score. In the event, 37109+37216 worked the train so I was happy.

With an 11.33 departure from Banbury, this meant I could have quite a late start compared to some railtours I have been on in the past few years. After driving down to Birmingham International, I caught the 09.15 to Banbury, formed of a Virgin Voyager, my first journey in one of these. I would have caught the one an hour later if I were more confident in Virgin’s reliability! At least this gave time to hunt out a supermarket for breakfast in Banbury before returning to the station, where I bumped into this site’s webmaster who was there to photograph the train.

The two 37s rolled in a few minutes early, and myself and other ‘pay on the day’ passengers were directed to coaches C, D, E or F. The train was only around half full, and I got a bay of 4 seats to myself for the day. The journey north was via Leamington, Solihull, Tyseley, Saltley and the Sutton Park line to Bescot Yard. At Bescot, the train reversed, with 92024 being attached to the opposite end for the journey north. Bescot was very busy, with all WCML services diverted through here, and in the 30 minutes the tour was stood there, several Virgin trains and a couple of Freightliners (one hauled by 66537 – a sight scratch!) went past.

I was pleased with the Class 92, as it had worked a tour last April when I was away on holiday so hadn’t been on that train. However, a lot of others on board were disappointed, and some people gave the tour a miss because they did not require it. You can never keep everyone happy! 92024 took the train to Preston, where there was a break of an hour or so before returning south.

From Preston, the tour was hauled by a Class 60 to Warrington, with the Class 92 tucked inside to return it south. 60008 was the loco for this section, and I think I must have been one of very few people on board who actually required it – the loco had last worked a railtour less than two months ago (Hertfordshire’s “Walsall Concerto” in January). At Warrington, the 60 and 92 were removed and replaced by 56091 for the run back to Birmingham International, via Chester and Shrewsbury. I didn’t need the 56, but always enjoy a run behind one of the class. Shame it was virtually all in the dark though. Arrival back into Birmingham International, where I alighted, was around 30 minutes early. As I got into my car, I heard the 37s backing onto the train for the return run back to Euston. With 3 out of 5 locos scored, this was a good tour for me loco-wise with a couple of ‘claw backs’. I doubt many others were pleased with the motive power though.

David Russell

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(actual times courtesy of Joe Sharples)

Key;
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
L : loco change
/ : passing time

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